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| Photo from @NCTsmtown/X |
In the world of K-pop, the term "military wife era" describes the emotional period fans go through when their favorite idols are enlisted for South Korea's mandatory military service. The news often floods social media with fan reactions, mourning the hiatus and longing for their idols' return. While many countries have similar service requirements, K-pop’s intense content production makes even a year and a half feel like an eternity. For some, like myself, the unexpected enlistment of long-time bias Jaehyun from NCT in November 2024 came as a surprising reminder of how quickly time flies.